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New bag tag technology on New York flights

Customers flying to New York on British Airways’ exclusive all-business class flights from London City will be able to tag their own bags from today (September 5).

For the first time anyone travelling on the double daily flights from the Docklands airport will benefit from revolutionary self-help technology.

London City was chosen as the second airport on British Airways’ global network to offer its customers the baggage technology which went live on European flights in March. It was first launched at Gatwick Airport in October.

Now customers on the airport’s only long haul flights can print and attach tags to their own bags at a self-service kiosk and deposit them at a bag drop desk.

The IT strategy at both London City and Gatwick airports follows the ‘Fast Travel’ initiative, which is part of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Simplifying the Business Programme, and involves introducing automated and self-service capabilities into an airport to simplify and speed up the passenger experience. In recognition of British Airways investment in new technology at Gatwick, IATA was awarded the airline a ‘Gold’ award in October.

The new process, combined with the option to check-in on line and print boarding passes at home or the office, eases congestion on the airport concourse, particularly at peak times.

It means customers can literally go from curbside to airside, even with checked-in bags, in 20 minutes thanks to technology which was designed specifically for British Airways.

Editors note

London City Airport (LCY) is the only London airport situated in London itself, just three miles from Canary Wharf, seven miles from the City and 10 miles from London’s West End and linked to all via the Docklands Light Railway. Infrastructure improvements in 2011 catered for 3 million passengers and 70,000 movements, while in 2012 LCY celebrated its millionth flight, 35 millionth passenger and 25 years of operation. LCY offers a unique 20/10 proposition – a 20 minute check in, from door to gate, and a 10 minute arrival, from tarmac to train. 10 airlines fly out of LCY, serving 42 destinations, including Dublin, Madrid and Geneva . Seven new destinations were added in 2012, and the airport has permission to increase its operation to 120,000 movements per annum.